Prime Minister Robert Abela, accompanied by the Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection, Keith Azzopardi Tanti and the Minister for Youth, Welfare and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Omar Farrugia, met with representatives of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) regarding the priorities set by this Government for the next five years.
Prime Minister Abela said that the MCESD and the social partners are an important pawn in social dialogue and for us as a country to continue moving forward.
Dr Abela reiterated that this Government will continue to prioritise consultation with all social partners. He also referred to a relationship of respect and friendship that has been built in recent years, including in critical moments such as the pandemic, when the Government, together with social partners, worked to safeguard workers, families, employers and the economic stability of the country.
He also mentioned the joint work that the Government had with the MCESD on the Malta Vision 2050 and on various sectoral and collective agreements that improved the conditions of workers. He said that in the discussions and work there was always respect and commitment towards the common good.
The Prime Minister stressed that the Government will continue to provide certainty, stability and peace of mind, particularly in the strategic area of energy. He said that Malta is strong, with a solid economy and a fiscal position that allows the Government to continue investing in families and businesses.
Dr Abela pointed out that the Government’s work programme is an ambitious and reformist one, which will take us one step closer to the realisation of the Malta 2050 Vision, with an emphasis on quality of life, health, education, sustainable mobility, the environment and digitalisation.
The Prime Minister concluded by saying that in the first hundred days of this legislature the Government will send a clear signal that it will continue to implement the necessary changes, while reiterating the commitment that social dialogue will continue to be strengthened for the good of the people.
Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti said that sustainable progress cannot be imposed from one side only, but must be built together through dialogue where economic growth goes hand in hand with social progress and investment in workers’ skills. “As a Government, we are committed to working with all social partners so that the use of European funds and our decisions continue to improve people’s quality of life and leave no one behind,” reiterated Minister Azzopardi Tanti.
The Chairperson of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, Maria Micallef, said that the fact that one of the first activities of this legislature is precisely a meeting of the MCESD, is a clear sign of the importance that the Government is giving to social dialogue and social partners. She also stressed that as a country we must move forward through the Malta 2050 Vision, a vision that the MCESD Council was instrumental in launching. She mentioned that the value of this Vision is not measured only by its aspirations, but also by our capacity to remain focused on the implementation and the identified targets.
Maria Micallef stressed that if everyone is committed to dialogue, as a country we can not only address today’s challenges but also build a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future for tomorrow’s generations, thus continuing to improve the quality of life and well-being of the Maltese and Gozitans.
Head of the Public Service Tony Sultana said that the public administration is ready to listen, but above all to lead the necessary implementation. “Modern leadership means creating a clear vision, taking courageous decisions where necessary, and facilitating the necessary change so that Malta remains competitive, inclusive and sustainable, with no one left behind and where everyone can enjoy the common good,” reiterated Tony Sultana.
Cabinet Secretary Ryan Spagnol pointed out that the necessary work has already begun to begin the implementation of the measures of the Electoral Manifesto, while continuing the implementation of those measures that were still being implemented in the previous legislature. He also made reference to the Wellbeing Index – an index that aims to improve the quality of life by 25%. Ryan Spagnol reiterated that each measure will be contributing to achieving this main goal that our country has.
Photo: DOI/OPM
